One Silver Summons [2/9]
Fandom: BBC Merlin
Characters: Uther, Merlin, Gwen, Morgana, OFC
Genre: Drama, Friendship, Gen
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: 3x13, "The Coming of Arthur"
Warnings: Character death
Words: ~13,500
Summary: Uther is determined to deliver a gift to Morgana. Arthur sends Merlin and Gwen, his most trusted friends, to ensure the king's safety during the perilous journey. *This is a semi-sequel, using two OFCs from Comedies End With a Wedding. It isn't necessary to read that one first.
Chapter 1: Resurrection
One Week Earlier
"Do I have to?" Arthur sat in the dining hall with his head buried in his hands. "I don't want to. You do it."
"I can't do, and you know it. This is your destiny, you know, running Camelot." Merlin ran a hand through his hair in exasperation. It had been a month since Morgana usurped the throne of Camelot and was subsequently overthrown by Arthur. Uther had been in steady decline following his daughter's betrayal, and Arthur had taken over as regent. His least favorite of his new duties was hearing from the king's vassals, a crucial task that happened to bore him to tears.
The worst part, Arthur confided in Merlin one night, was that he knew his father would have good advice for him - if only he were capable of giving it. There was no one else who truly understood what it was like to be king, no one else who could guide Arthur when he needed it.
Sir Leon strode purposefully in and stood at Arthur's feet. Normally he didn't stand on ceremony with Arthur, but he hesitated today.
Arthur looked out from between his fingers. "What?"
Merlin kicked him under the table, and he sat up straight and set his hands down on the table.
"Something has happened," said Sir Leon. "It's...Sigrid. The princess of Balfonheim."
"What about her? I don't suppose she got up and started walking about?" Arthur laughed airily. Two years ago, the princess had been betrothed to his father. She would have been the queen of Camelot, if Uther hadn't run her through the day before their wedding.
"Bring 'er in," Sir Leon called out towards the corridor. To Arthur, he explained, "I had her disarmed…just in case."
Sigrid swept in. She had changed out her silk gowns for shining armor and a white fur cloak, but otherwise she looked the same as ever.
Kneeling before him, she said, "Hello again, Arthur. I hope you are well."
"I hope I'm as well as you when I'm dead," said Arthur, not bothering to cover his astonishment.
She smiled. "I would be honored to take your soul to the hall of the gods, if that is your wish."
"Not looking that far ahead, thanks." He turned his palms up. "Let's skip the how you're here for a moment and go straight to the why."
"I wish to see Uther. Where is he?"
Arthur told Merlin to send word to Uther and bring back his response. Merlin hardly knew what to think. Uther had a lot of enemies hell-bent on revenge, and some of them were willing to feign civility, even adoration, to get near enough to kill him. On the other hand, Sigrid was one of the most straightforward people Merlin had ever met. If she wanted Uther dead, he doubted she'd waste time on subterfuge. She'd just plant a knife in his chest and have done with it.
He entered the king's chambers. Uther was staring vacantly out at the town, as he frequently did of late.
"Your Majesty, I have a message from Prince Arthur," said Merlin, bowing. "Princess Sigrid is here to see you. She says you summoned her."
Uther turned around and regarded Merlin with surprise. "Do I have such powers?"
"I think it's more likely Sigrid is the one with the powers, sire. Do you wish to see her?"
"Very much. Send her in."
That was that. Merlin brought the message back to Arthur, who told Sigrid he would accompany her. Sir Leon pointed out that the Council were still waiting for Arthur's return, however. Groaning, Arthur ordered Merlin to go instead.
Merlin let her in to the king's chambers and positioned himself next to the door. He felt larger and more awkward than usual, somehow, as if he were taking up a lot of space.
"Your son has sent an escort," said Sigrid, nodding over her shoulder at Merlin.
"Do forgive him. He's not ready to see me dead just yet."
"Hmph. What sort of gutless dog would murder in a bedchamber? I would see you die in glorious battle and return with me to the hall of the gods." Her English was much improved since the last time she was in Camelot, but she still had an accent that made her speech sound exotic.
"Would that everyone were so honest. Then you aren't here for revenge?"
"Now, Uther. You do so few things out of love, why be angry just because you happened to cause my death? I never believed you meant to harm me." She smiled wistfully. "In faith, you would not have landed that blow at all if I hadn't allowed it."
Uther pulled Sigrid into a tight embrace. Merlin didn't need to see the king's expression to understand how very much he wanted to hear that.
He closed his eyes and tried to use his magic to sense Sigrid's intentions. At least he might be able to find out if she was still human. He relaxed, allowing the magic to flow through him, feeling what she felt. Compassion and affection, overwhelmingly. Concern. Resolve. And...fear? Just a little bit, but she was definitely afraid of something. He pushed a bit more.
Annoyance! With a start, Merlin opened his eyes to find Sigrid peering into them, nose-to-nose with him.
"What are you doing, Merlin?" she asked. It still sounded like "marlin" when she said it.
"I? Um? Nothing!"
"Have you seen enough? Are you satisfied that my intentions are honest?"
"Well, I -"
"Get out," Uther explained.
Merlin took his leave.
Arthur fixed Merlin with an expression nearly identical to the one that had chased him out of the king's chambers.
"Merlin, for the love of all that is good, I told you to keep an eye on Sigrid! I will be very cross if my father has a dagger sticking out of his back the next time I see him."
"I don't think that's the kind of impaling she has in mind," Merlin cracked, regretting it even before the sentence was out of his mouth.
"You know what? I'm letting that one go," said Arthur. He took a deep breath and pushed it back out. "There, it's gone. Now what are you basing this on?"
"I'm positive she means him no harm. In fact, I'd be much surprised if the king isn't feeling like his old self tomorrow."
The next morning, Sigrid had gone and Uther was indeed practically a new man. Merlin wondered if he dared trying his empath spell on the king. Sigrid sensed it, but she must surely have some sort of magic running through her. Dead people didn't get a second bite at the apple as a matter of course.
Arthur encouraged his father to go riding, perhaps hunting. Something enjoyable and preferably outdoors, which the king had not seen in some time. That would perform the dual function of bolstering his mood and the confidence of the people in their king. Uther agreed and left for a ride immediately after breakfast.
"It's about time we had some good news," Arthur sighed. "Thank all the bastions of goodness Sigrid came when she did. Reanimated corpse or not, I'm grateful to her."
Gaius pulled Merlin away to discuss the matter in private. Merlin described as best he could how he had sensed her emotions in Uther's chambers.
"She was most certainly dead. We all saw the funeral pyre. Could she be a wraith?" Gaius mused.
"Definitely not. The Black Knight wasn't anything like a living man. Sigrid was just the same as ever, like nothing had happened."
"Peculiar. But you didn't sense any hostility from her?"
"Ah, no, more like the opposite of that," said Merlin dryly. "Although...I did sense fear."
"Of what?"
"No idea. Nothing immediate. It was vague, unfocused."
"This bodes ill, Merlin. Something is not right here."
"Let's just hope you're wrong, then."
Gaius nodded solemnly. "I do."
[ Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 ]
Characters: Uther, Merlin, Gwen, Morgana, OFC
Genre: Drama, Friendship, Gen
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: 3x13, "The Coming of Arthur"
Warnings: Character death
Words: ~13,500
Summary: Uther is determined to deliver a gift to Morgana. Arthur sends Merlin and Gwen, his most trusted friends, to ensure the king's safety during the perilous journey. *This is a semi-sequel, using two OFCs from Comedies End With a Wedding. It isn't necessary to read that one first.
Chapter 1: Resurrection
One Week Earlier
"Do I have to?" Arthur sat in the dining hall with his head buried in his hands. "I don't want to. You do it."
"I can't do, and you know it. This is your destiny, you know, running Camelot." Merlin ran a hand through his hair in exasperation. It had been a month since Morgana usurped the throne of Camelot and was subsequently overthrown by Arthur. Uther had been in steady decline following his daughter's betrayal, and Arthur had taken over as regent. His least favorite of his new duties was hearing from the king's vassals, a crucial task that happened to bore him to tears.
The worst part, Arthur confided in Merlin one night, was that he knew his father would have good advice for him - if only he were capable of giving it. There was no one else who truly understood what it was like to be king, no one else who could guide Arthur when he needed it.
Sir Leon strode purposefully in and stood at Arthur's feet. Normally he didn't stand on ceremony with Arthur, but he hesitated today.
Arthur looked out from between his fingers. "What?"
Merlin kicked him under the table, and he sat up straight and set his hands down on the table.
"Something has happened," said Sir Leon. "It's...Sigrid. The princess of Balfonheim."
"What about her? I don't suppose she got up and started walking about?" Arthur laughed airily. Two years ago, the princess had been betrothed to his father. She would have been the queen of Camelot, if Uther hadn't run her through the day before their wedding.
"Bring 'er in," Sir Leon called out towards the corridor. To Arthur, he explained, "I had her disarmed…just in case."
Sigrid swept in. She had changed out her silk gowns for shining armor and a white fur cloak, but otherwise she looked the same as ever.
Kneeling before him, she said, "Hello again, Arthur. I hope you are well."
"I hope I'm as well as you when I'm dead," said Arthur, not bothering to cover his astonishment.
She smiled. "I would be honored to take your soul to the hall of the gods, if that is your wish."
"Not looking that far ahead, thanks." He turned his palms up. "Let's skip the how you're here for a moment and go straight to the why."
"I wish to see Uther. Where is he?"
Arthur told Merlin to send word to Uther and bring back his response. Merlin hardly knew what to think. Uther had a lot of enemies hell-bent on revenge, and some of them were willing to feign civility, even adoration, to get near enough to kill him. On the other hand, Sigrid was one of the most straightforward people Merlin had ever met. If she wanted Uther dead, he doubted she'd waste time on subterfuge. She'd just plant a knife in his chest and have done with it.
He entered the king's chambers. Uther was staring vacantly out at the town, as he frequently did of late.
"Your Majesty, I have a message from Prince Arthur," said Merlin, bowing. "Princess Sigrid is here to see you. She says you summoned her."
Uther turned around and regarded Merlin with surprise. "Do I have such powers?"
"I think it's more likely Sigrid is the one with the powers, sire. Do you wish to see her?"
"Very much. Send her in."
That was that. Merlin brought the message back to Arthur, who told Sigrid he would accompany her. Sir Leon pointed out that the Council were still waiting for Arthur's return, however. Groaning, Arthur ordered Merlin to go instead.
Merlin let her in to the king's chambers and positioned himself next to the door. He felt larger and more awkward than usual, somehow, as if he were taking up a lot of space.
"Your son has sent an escort," said Sigrid, nodding over her shoulder at Merlin.
"Do forgive him. He's not ready to see me dead just yet."
"Hmph. What sort of gutless dog would murder in a bedchamber? I would see you die in glorious battle and return with me to the hall of the gods." Her English was much improved since the last time she was in Camelot, but she still had an accent that made her speech sound exotic.
"Would that everyone were so honest. Then you aren't here for revenge?"
"Now, Uther. You do so few things out of love, why be angry just because you happened to cause my death? I never believed you meant to harm me." She smiled wistfully. "In faith, you would not have landed that blow at all if I hadn't allowed it."
Uther pulled Sigrid into a tight embrace. Merlin didn't need to see the king's expression to understand how very much he wanted to hear that.
He closed his eyes and tried to use his magic to sense Sigrid's intentions. At least he might be able to find out if she was still human. He relaxed, allowing the magic to flow through him, feeling what she felt. Compassion and affection, overwhelmingly. Concern. Resolve. And...fear? Just a little bit, but she was definitely afraid of something. He pushed a bit more.
Annoyance! With a start, Merlin opened his eyes to find Sigrid peering into them, nose-to-nose with him.
"What are you doing, Merlin?" she asked. It still sounded like "marlin" when she said it.
"I? Um? Nothing!"
"Have you seen enough? Are you satisfied that my intentions are honest?"
"Well, I -"
"Get out," Uther explained.
Merlin took his leave.
Arthur fixed Merlin with an expression nearly identical to the one that had chased him out of the king's chambers.
"Merlin, for the love of all that is good, I told you to keep an eye on Sigrid! I will be very cross if my father has a dagger sticking out of his back the next time I see him."
"I don't think that's the kind of impaling she has in mind," Merlin cracked, regretting it even before the sentence was out of his mouth.
"You know what? I'm letting that one go," said Arthur. He took a deep breath and pushed it back out. "There, it's gone. Now what are you basing this on?"
"I'm positive she means him no harm. In fact, I'd be much surprised if the king isn't feeling like his old self tomorrow."
The next morning, Sigrid had gone and Uther was indeed practically a new man. Merlin wondered if he dared trying his empath spell on the king. Sigrid sensed it, but she must surely have some sort of magic running through her. Dead people didn't get a second bite at the apple as a matter of course.
Arthur encouraged his father to go riding, perhaps hunting. Something enjoyable and preferably outdoors, which the king had not seen in some time. That would perform the dual function of bolstering his mood and the confidence of the people in their king. Uther agreed and left for a ride immediately after breakfast.
"It's about time we had some good news," Arthur sighed. "Thank all the bastions of goodness Sigrid came when she did. Reanimated corpse or not, I'm grateful to her."
Gaius pulled Merlin away to discuss the matter in private. Merlin described as best he could how he had sensed her emotions in Uther's chambers.
"She was most certainly dead. We all saw the funeral pyre. Could she be a wraith?" Gaius mused.
"Definitely not. The Black Knight wasn't anything like a living man. Sigrid was just the same as ever, like nothing had happened."
"Peculiar. But you didn't sense any hostility from her?"
"Ah, no, more like the opposite of that," said Merlin dryly. "Although...I did sense fear."
"Of what?"
"No idea. Nothing immediate. It was vague, unfocused."
"This bodes ill, Merlin. Something is not right here."
"Let's just hope you're wrong, then."
Gaius nodded solemnly. "I do."
[ Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 ]